Container



NOV. 8, 1932. BEHRlNGER 1,887,449,

CONTAINER Filed Sept. 24. 1929 "III-III- llloaw y Patented Nov. 8, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GROVER F. BEHRINGER, OI DEFIANCE, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN STEEL PACKAGE COMPANY, OF DEFIANCE, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO CONTAINER Application filed September 24, 1929. .Serial No. 394,841.

This invention relates to containers for materials, such as liquids or semi-liquids; more particularly the invention relates to a container having a filling opening which may be permanently sealed after it is filled and a wall a portion of which is removable to permit emptying but which portion cannot be replaced to the end that the container cannot be repaired or returned to its original condition or appearance. This arrangement renders the container practical for use in shipping materials which, because of their nature, or rules and regulations governing their shipment, the consignee is insured against removal or contamination of the container contents during transportation, so that the container shall reach its destination of shipment in its original condition.

One object of the invention is to construct an improved plug for the filling opening in a container having tool engaging portions so connected to the body of the plug that upon the application of undue force to such portions in screwing the plug into position, multilation will result to preclude the removal of the plug.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved container in which are provided filling and discharge elements, the former being substantially permanently sealed when the container is once filled and the latter being breakable or removable to permit emptying of the container, but nonreplaceable to prevent re-use of the container for the same purpose.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved container having a filling opening and a non-replaceable, removable wall section which permits ready access to be had to the container to remove its contents, but prevents unauthorized access to the container or its re-use for the same purpose.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved container in which a portion of one wall is defined by a weakened line or spaced lines so that such portion may be knocked out to permit access to the container.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved container in which a portion of one wall is removable and to reinforce such wall and portion to prevent damage thereto or leakage due to handling of the container or accidents thereto during handling and shipment.

Another object of the invention is to provide upon the wall of a container a plug receiving bung the opening through which is closed by such wall in such manner that the portion of the wall closing the bung opening may be knocked out to permit access to the container.

Other objects of the invention will be ap parent to those skilled in the art to which my invention relates from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a container embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view onthe line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section of a portion of Fig. 2, showing the step of knocking out the non-replaceable, removable section of the head.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1, but showing the closing plug and gasket in separated relation ready to be positioned and the opening sealed or substantially permanently closed.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the plug.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 5, but showing the plug in final, closing position and its tool engaging portion broken off from its body portion.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing a modified form of construction.

In the drawing, 1 indicates a container of any suitable construction and of any delocation, that is, in the body 1a or upon either head. I prefer to locate the filling opening in the side wall of the container and the emptying opening in one of its heads. In this arrangement, I provide upon the side wall or body 1a an internally threaded bung ring or bushing 3, which may be secured to the wall 1a in any desired manner. In the construction shown, the ring 3 is flanged at 3a at its'outer end and the periphery of the flange is serrated; also, the metal of the wall 1a surrounds the body portion of the ring 3 as shown at 4 and folds back on itself so as to envelope the flange 3a. The wall 1a is stretched over the serrations of the flange to insure a locking of the ring against turning. and the marginal portions 5 of the opening 6 through the wall 1a lie flat upon the end wall of the ring 3 and its flange 3a (see Figs. 5 and 7), to form a seat for the flange 7 of a plug 8 or a suitable gasket 9 that may be interposed between the portions 5 and flange 7. The plug 8 comprises a threaded body portion 811 having the flange 7 (already referred to) and tool engaging walls 10 so connected to the body portion that when undue force or pressure is applied upon such Walls mutilation results, thereby making it necessary to resort to abnormal means or methods of some sort to efl'ect removal of the plug. In the preferred form of construction I provide a polygonal head connected to the body portion 8a by a neck 10' that is relatively narrow in cross section as compared to the transverse width of the head 10, thereby forming a weakened connection or support for the head.

Accordingly, when a suitable tool is applied to the walls of the head to screw the plug 8 into closing position in the bung ring 3, it may be tightened therein to any desired degree dependent upon the limit of strength of the neck 10' to resist the turning force applied to the head. However, by applying to the head an undue turning force, the plug will be tightened to a greater degree, and when such force is increased against the re sistance of the threads to further tightening of the plug in excess of the limit of strength of the neck'lO', the latter will break or twist off, as shown at X in Fig. 7, the head 10 thereby becoming detached from the body portion 8a. In this condition, the plug 8 will lack'tool engaging walls that may be engaged to effect its removal. As the undue force applied to the head was utilized to further tighten the plug in the ring, it will be seen that the plug is not only efi'ectively locked in position but as it lacks devices or walls with which engagement may be effected to unscrew the plug, it is substantial y permanently fixed and sealed in position, except by resort to some abnormal means or methods. Danger of an unauthorized person tryingto unscrew the plug or otherwise remove it, is therefore eliminated.

11 indicates a section provided in one wall of the container and adapted to be removed to permit access within the container, but

such section is not replaceable, so that once access is had to empty the container, in whole or in part, or to adulterate its contents, it cannot again be closed, repaired or sealed in its original condition. The section 11 is defined by weakening one wall along either a broken line (such as a series of lines having their ends spaced from each other) or a continuous line a, so that by hitting the section a sharp blow it will be knocked out, and hence leave an opening through the wall. I prefer to provide the section 11 in one head 1?) of the container, as shown. The wall 1?) is weakened along a continuous line preferably of circular shape, to define the section 11, by cutting the Wall part way through, as shown, thus leaving a. weakened Wall 12 connecting the section 11 to the head 1?).

13 indicates a reinforcing means for the sectionll and wall 12 mounted in any desired manner on one, preferably the inner face of the wall 16 and overlapping or bridging the weakened wall 12 throughout its circumference. The purpose of the means 13 is to reinforce the weakened wall 12 of the head 1?) and portions of the head surrounding and adjacent to the weakened wall and to prevent strains upon the section 11 due to stresses on the head incident to droppingor rough usage of the container when in service. The reinforcing means comprises a ring suitably secured to that portion of the head 1?) immediately surrounding the weakened wall 12 so that strains on the head are not imparted to the section 11 or its connecting wall 12. In the form of construction, shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, the ring 13 comprises a body portion 14 provided at its outer end with an outwardly extending flange 14a and the metal of the head is folded about this flange and forms a collar to interlock the ring with the head. In this form of construction the side Walls of the collar have bearing on the side walls of the ring and its flange, which being in planes at right angles to the plane of the head, resists strains upon the latter from reaching the weakened wall 12 and section 11.

In the form of construction shown in Fig. 2, the ring 13 is similar in construction to the ring 3 and the metal wall 1?) is folded over its flange 14a and stretched over the serrations 14a to insure an effective interlock between the ring 13 and wall 16, whereby the reinforcement is held against displacement due to falls and also secured against turning when supporting a closing plug and'the latter is screwed or unscrewed.

In Fig. 8 I show a modified form of construction. In this form the reinforcing ring 13 comprises a body portion 14. having at its outerend a flange 15 which is beaded as 10 so that such wall is reinforced and the section 11 is protected from strains imparted to or upon the head or wall 16.

In both forms of construction, (a) the weakened line 12 is disposed outwardly of the inner wall of the ring, so that the latter forms a support for the marginal portions of the section 11 and prevents it from being accidentally distorted or knocked out by a shearing action, and (b) the .inner wall of the ring is threaded, so that upon the removal of the section 11, a plug may be fitted to the ring 13 or 13' to close its opening. This arrangement permits the container to be put into use as a storage receptacle or used for transportation of materials the character of which makes it unnecessary to guard.

16 indicates a supplemental removable, non-replaceable section provided in the head 16. The section 16 is connected to the remaining portion of the head by a weakened wall 12 formed and arranged similar to the wall 11 already described. The wall 12', section 16 and marginal portions of the wall 11) are reinforced by a ring 13% mounted in J and secured to the wall 1b similarly to the ring 13. The supplemental section 16 is relatively small in diameter, its purpose being to provide a vent, when removed, when the section 11 is removed, so that emptying of the container may be readily effected. The ring 13% is also relatively small, and is internally threaded so that when the section 16 is re moved it may be closed by a plug or it may receive a suitable faucet to permit the container to be used for dispensing liquids.

In Fig. 8 I also show a supplemental removable, non-replaceable section 1100, connected by a weakened wall 1200 to the remaining portion of the head lb. This section is' arranged to be knocked out to provide a vent. The weakened wall 12a: is reinforced by a ring 1400 similar to the ring 13' in the manner already described.

In either form of reinforcement for the emptying opening I prefer to use a similar reinforcement for the venting opening to facilitate manufacture.

To remove the section 11 or section 16, I give it one or two sharp blows in its central portion. This distorts the section as shown in Fig. 4 and breaks away a portion of its edge along the weakened line 12: I then insert a wedge shaped tool such as a screw driver between the separated walls and press upwardly on the section to sever the remaining portion of the section 11 from the head 1?). By giving the section a number of blows and regulating their force, a greater or less portion of the section may be broken away from the head 16 along the weakened line, so that less labor will be required to finally disconnect and remove it.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I provide in the first instance a liquid tight, non-refillable container having a filling opening 6 which, after 'the container is filled, is closed in a manner which prevents opening by normal means or methods; also that one head of the container has a portion connected to the remaining portion of the head by a weakened wall, which is liquid tight but permits the portion defined by the wall to be broken away or knocked out to permit access to the'container; also that a reinforcing member is mounted upon the head and positioned to support and reinforce the weakened wall and the removable portion so that strains imparted to or upon the head are not transmitted to the removable portion or wall, and danger of the latter being unintentionally dislocated or torn away along its connecting wall is eliminated.

To those skilled in the art to which my invention relates, many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. My disclosures and the description herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.

What I claim is:

1. A shipping container comprising side walls and end walls, one of said walls having a filling opening, means for substantially permanently closing said opening, one of said walls being formed of metal and having a weakened portion defining a removable, non replaceable section forming an emptying opening when removed, and reinforcing means surrounding said weakened portion, said reinforcing means comprising a ring having a circumferential flange over which the metal surrounding said weakened portion is folded, the inner wall of said ring being provided with screw threads.

2. A. shipping container comprising a body portion and head portions therefor, one of said portions being formed of sheet metal and having a weakened wall defining a removable, non-replaceable sec-tion forming an emptying opening for the container when removed, and a ring secured to the sheet metal portion surrounding said weakened wall, the end wall of the ring bridging the weakened portion throughout its length.

3. A shipping container comprising a body portion and head portions therefor, one of said portions having a filling opening, means for substantially permanently closing said opening, one of said portions being formed of sheet metal and provided with a weakened wall defining a removable, non-replaceable section forming an emptying opening for the container when removed, and a ring secured to the sheet metal portion surrounding said weakened wall, the end wall of said ring bridging the weakened wall throughout its length.

4. A shipping container having a sheet metal wall formed with an opening, an internally threaded bung ring disposed concentric to said opening and having a flange at one end, the periphery of said flange and walls of said opening being shaped to provide a rigid interlocking liquid tight connection between them, and a metallic plug comprising a threaded body frictionally engaging the threads in said ring and a tool engaging head connected to said body by a weakened member, said head being utilized to frictionally tighten said plug in said ring and said weakened portion permitting said head to be broken off when force equal to its breaking resistance is applied, to prevent removal of said body.

5. A shipping container comprising side walls and end walls, one of said walls having a filling opening, and means for substantially permanently closing said opening, one of said walls being formed of metal,'sai 1 wall being reduced in thickness along substantially an annular line to define in the wall an intermediate section integrally connected with the remaining portion of the wall but removable and non-replaceable to form, when removed, an opening leading into said container.

6. A shipping container comprising side walls and end walls, one of said walls having a filling opening, and means for substantially permanently closing said opening, one ofsaid walls being formed of metal, spaced portions of said metal wall being reduced in thickness along substantially annular lines to define in the wall intermediate sections each integrally .connected to the remaining portion of the wall but removable and non-replaceable, one

section when removed, being arranged to form an emptying opening for the container and the other section, when removed, being adapted to form a vent for the container.

7. A shipping container comprising side walls and end walls, one of said walls having a filling opening, means for substantially permanently'closing said opening, one of said walls being formed of metal, said wall being reduced in thickness along substantially an annular line to define in the wall an intermediate section integrally connected with the remaining portion of the wall but removable and non-replaceable to form, when removed, an opening leading into said container, and reinforcing means connected to that portion of said metal Wall surrounding and adjacent to the reduced portion of the wall.

8. A shipping container comprising side walls and end walls, one of said walls having a filling opening, means for substantially permanently closing said opening, one of said walls being formed of metal, said Wall being reduced in thickness along substantially an annular line to define in the wall an intermediate section integrally connected with the remaining portion of the wall but removable and non-replaceable to form, when removed,

an opening leading into said container, and

an internally threaded ring connected to that portion of said metal wall surrounding and adjacent to the reduced portion of the wall.

9. A shipping container comprising a body portion and head portions therefor, one of said portions consisting of a sheet metal wall, a bung ring threaded internally for remov ably receiving a threaded plug and provided at one end with a circumferential flange secured to the inner face of said sheet metal wall, that portion of the wall within said flange being scored and adapted to be broken out to permit access to said container and insertion of a plug into said ring.

10. A shipping container comprising a body portion and head portions therefor, one of said portions consisting of a sheet metal wall and having a weakened portion defining a removable, non-replaceable section to form an opening in said wall when removed, a hung ring threaded internally for removably receiving a threaded plug and provided at one end with a circumferential flange secured to the inner face of said wall surrounding the weakened portion therein.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

GROVER F. BEHRINGER.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 1,887,449. November 8, 1932. Y

GROVER r. BEHRINGER.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 3, line [02, claim 1, beginning with the word "comprising" strike out all to and including the word "walls" in line 106, and insert instead "having a filling opening in one wall, means for substantially permanently closing said opening, one wall of said container"; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that. the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 24th day of January A. D. 1933.

M. J. Moore.

(Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

